Lions, Tigers and Bears! Navigating the Law for Creatives

Shirin counsels on a variety of general business issues for both startup companies and established small businesses. She practices in the areas of businesses formation, organization, and operation, and helps companies identify areas of potential liability and mitigate risks in their day-to-day business transactions. Her practice also provides ongoing general support, including advisement in areas of contract drafting and negotiation, commercial leases and real estate transactions, regulatory law, data privacy, and intellectual property.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Shirin worked in the entertainment and technology industries, including a talent booking agency, a major record label in Southern California, and a regional data center in Salt Lake City, Utah. She continues to offer her services to artists, musicians, designers, authors and other creative entrepreneurs.

Shirin concentrated her studies at the University of Colorado Law School on technology, privacy, and the protection of artists, designers, and independent business owners. She studied intellectual property rights, including copyright, trademark, and patent law, as well as Internet, telecommunications and technology law. She served as Articles Editor for the Colorado Technology Law Journal, where her student note regarding privacy on social networks was selected for publication. Finally, as a legal Research Assistant, Shirin contributed to several published law review articles and course books on the law of business entities.

In addition to her commitment to her clients, Shirin devotes much of her free time to her community through volunteering, pro bono, and non-profit work. In the past, Shirin has been involved with Colorado Lawyers for the Arts, and now serves as a volunteer attorney for Colorado Attorneys for the Arts (CAFTA). She is a regular volunteer for Boulder County Legal Services, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Boulder County Arts Alliance (BCAA).

Caroline R. Kert is an attorney and a mediator, practicing with Daniel T. Goodwin’s litigation team. Her practice focuses on commercial and civil litigation, employment law, and representation for artists, film makers, and musicians. She also handles appeals to the federal and state court systems.

She is passionate about working with innovative social impact businesses and entrepreneurs. She recognizes that there are numerous approaches to resolving conflict between parties and she works with clients to ensure that the most efficient, cost-effective approach is primary. Ms. Kert is equally at home guiding clients through a mediation process, negotiating settlement, or seeking judgment at trial.

Ms. Kert also has extensive experience with nonprofit, environmental, government, and arts programs.

When she is not in the office, Ms. Kert devotes her time to developing local and regional arts communities. She has served as a Director and President of Apogaea, Inc., a local 501(c)(3) arts organization associated with Burning Man, and she was a founding member of The Phoenix Asylum, a Boulder arts collective. She was most recently selected by the Burning Man organization as its Boulder Regional Contact.

She enjoys film, having worked on many student and professional sets and having attended the Colorado Film School for cinematography and directing. She also volunteers time as a community mediator through the City of Boulder Community Mediation Services, Boulder County Restorative Justice Program, and the Apogaea and Burning Man organizations.